Pneumatic cleaner and eraser



Oct. 31, 1933. l w wHALEN 1,932,611

PNEUMATIC CLEANER AND ERASER Filed Dec. 9, 1932 F g Zhwentor;

J/INEE h/ WH/ILE/V:

Gttorneg Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES {PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

t should first be understood, that in the use of the ordinary erasers for removing objectional marking from paper, or the like, that one of the detriments eventuating therefrom is that the marking being removed becomes smeared upon the clean paper, and it is also more or less rubbed thereinto, not only soiling the paper, but in juring it, and also hastening deterioration of the eraser, and causing the loss of time correcting the error.

The object of this invention is to overcome said objectional eventualities, and enable one to accomplish better and more perfect work, and that with less time and labor expended thereon, and with a saving of material.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device by the employment of which one may thoroughly and expeditiously clean the faces of the type of type-writing machines with a minimum of time and exertion devoted thereto.

Other objects and particular advantages of my invention will suggest themselves to a draftsman, or to a typist, in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, I have shown one manner of carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner, in which Figure 1 illustrates my invention as it would appear in actual use.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of my instrument, showing the details of one manner of its construction.

Figure 3 is a side view of an erasingelement and its cap.

Figure 4 is an end View of the eraser cap, as taken from the line 4- 4 of Fig. 3.

And Figure 5 is an end view of the eraser element, as taken from the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

7 Similar indices designate like parts throughout the several views.

'In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I may.

In Fig. 1, letter A denotes the top of a table or desk, on which is spread a sheet'of paper B. Letter C denotes the main compressed air supply pipe, with which is connected the flexible tube D, to the delivery end of which my instrument is attached. And letter D denotes a human hand grasping my instrument in proper position for the utilization thereof.

Referring now, more particularly, to the instrument: Numeral 1 denotes the body or tubular stock of the instrument, the same being exteriorily threaded at each end. Threaded onto one end of the stem is the exteriorily knurled central aperture therethrough, contacts with the forward face of the disc 5, and with the end of the stock 1. Numeral 7 denotes a metal ferrule, secured around the forward end of the tube D.

Turning now to the other or forward end of the stock 1, the interior thereof is threaded, to receive the exteriorly threaded plug 8, which has a comparatively large central aperture there through, through which may loosely operate the valve-stem 9. A closure 10,is formed integrally with the stem 9, and it is adapted to contact with the plug 8 in order to close the said aperture therethrough, but said closure is of less diameter than is the interior of the stem 1, in order that air may pass therearound when the stem is.

pushed back. The forward face of the plug 8 is provided with two forwardly prejecting lugs 11, by which the plug may be turned in order to position it, or to remove it when desired. The forward portion of the stem 9' is provided with two outwardly extending wings 12, which are to prevent the st m 9 from moving rearwardly beyond the plug 8, that isthe wings l2 and the closure 10, retain the stem 9 within the limits of its anticipated movements. The stem 1, and the various parts just described, comprise the valve mechanism, and I make no claim thereto, per se, as said parts may be variously changed as desired.

Numeral 1?. denotes a housing, the rear portion of which is interiorly threaded, whereby it may be run on the threads of the forward end portion of the stock 1, and whereby its forward portion forms a cavity therein. The forward edge of the housing 13 is turned slightly inwardly, forming the narrow flange 13 therearound, as in Fig. 2.

' Numeral 14 denotes a rubber eraser, which is round in cross section, and it is substantially of the same diameter as that of the aperture formed in the housing 13 by the flange 13, in which it may slide. Permanently secured around the rear end portion of the eraser 14, is a metal cap 15, its rear end being closed by its concave-convex head 15', against the convex face of which the inner end of the eraser engages. The peripheral wall of said cap 15 is formed with spring prongs, as indicated in Fig. 3, whereby it retains the eraser in grasping engagement. Said cap 15 is slidably mounted in the housing 13 whereby its forward edge will engage the flange 13', and by reason of which it can removed only when the housing is removed from the stock 1. It is to be observed that the forward end of the stem 9 is adapted to engage the center of the concave face of said cap, and when so engaged, and with the cap in contact with the flange 13, the closure 10 will be in contact with the rear face of the plug 8, thereby pressing the eraser forwardly almost to its limit of movement in that direction, as it'is shown in Fig. 2.

Formed longitudinally through the eraser is a plurality oi apertures, as for instance, the apertures 16, 1'? and 18. Likewise formed through the head 15 of the cap, are a plurality of corresponding apertures 19, 20 and 21, each of which registers with one or" the apertures 16, l? and 18.

Operation It will be observed that when arranged, as in Fig. 2, the air pressure will normally keep the valve closed, with the eraser extending outwardly. Desiring now to use my invention, one has only to grasp the instrument, as it is in Fig. l, bringing the outer end of the eraser into contact with the paper B at the point where the erasure is to be made. Then by pressing downwardly upon the instrument, it is evident that the pressure will overcome the air pressure and force the eraser 14 inwardly, which will cause the end of the cap 15 to force the stem 9 inwardly, carrying with it the closure 10, and thereby permitting the air, under pressure, to pass through the aperture in the nut 8, and then through one, or more, of the apertures in the eraser, whereby as the eraser is manually vibrated in contact with the paper B, to loosen the matter to be erased, that the matter thus loosened will be driven away by the air currents, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. It is to be observed that the contact of the eraser will. permit only one of the apertures in the eraser to be fully opened ata time, however the closed aperture, or apertures, will at the same time be delivering the air under pressure so as to tend to drive the loosened matter outwardly, to be taken up by a stronger air pressure from the aperture which is then fully opened. 7

For cleaning the faces of the type in writing machines the operation is similar to that stated above, except that the instrument may be held at right-angles to the faces of the type, pressing the eraser against the faces of the type sufiiciently to release the air pressure, and at the same time drawing the face of the eraser slowly over the faces of the type, and the air escaping through the apertures in the eraser will force the accumulated waste matter from the type, and from therearound, whereby the type will be quickly cleaned.

I desirethat it be understood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction set forth, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful.

Having now fully shown and described. my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A pneumatic cleaner and eraser comprising, inconibination with a tubular stccir having i ble 1 means for conducting cor pressed air into the intake end thereof; a housing detach'ablysecured on the discharge end of the stock projecting longitudinally therefrom, an inturned flange formed at the discharge end of the housing and 1 directed in *ardly at right-angles thereto and forming a central cavity from and in aligni'nent with the aperture of a stock, an eraser adapted to operate longitudinally with relation to the stool; and slily inoun'ed in cavity, 1 a covering the portion or" eraser and covering the inner end portion eraser and extending to midway of the periphery thereof with a plurality of apertures iorrned through the closed end of said cap and each registering 1 with an aperture formed longitudinally through the eraser, the forward edge of said cap being adapted to engage said flange of the housing in order to limit thev outward movement of the iii eraser, a valve located in the forward end or" the opened 12; 

